The World is the Runway

TThere is beauty in antiquity. From relics of daily life to the skeletons of structures, it is all good and well to appreciate the past, for, without the olden days, there would be no present. Yet time goes on, and even I, in all my anachronism, discern that things go on—traces of the world that others knew fade and transform—everything starts to change. Nevertheless, there is still beauty in the past, a beauty that lays dormant, covered by the contemporary, and deserves a resurrection. We cannot shatter the realm of modernity, nor can we exchange the past and the present—and so what matters is integration.

Clothing. It is our shell and armor, the expression of the individual, and a language we may show ourselves. Since the days of yore, we’ve draped ourselves in cloth and deemed it fashion. But fashion is ever evolving. What was once fashionable has become “traditional” or vintage. The unique relationship between dressmaker and wearer has been replaced by stock sizes, synthetic styles, and standardized fits in this seething world of mass production. Some of us wonder, is there still a place for our native weaves and tradition? Delby Bragais clings to it with what she calls tradition with a modern twist. This designer loves to mix the old with the new, so traditions come alive in a constantly-changing contemporary world.

To wear a Delby Bragais creation is to support a cause, a devotion, alongside a bed of roses for all involved. Why? This bubbly designer claimed, “Because the world is the runway!” She is a promoter of positivity in her design, which she considers her reason for creating. “I think when you look at fashion, I can celebrate purpose, passion, and prosperity. [These] three things mean something to me.” These values carry her throughout the beautiful realm of raiment.

Delby’s purpose is to remember and embrace the culture. “I think that when you remember your roots, it makes you a more powerful person. It makes you more authentic. And I think people who celebrate their roots are people who have very torn values,” she explained. “It’s a part of who you are, it’s a part of your authenticity, it’s part of your individuality. When you look at it, it all goes back there. Your individuality, and your roots, are a part of who you are! Celebrating culture is definitely fabulous.”

According to her, it is crucial to know precisely who you are. “There are some people that would rather present themselves as belonging to other cultures, or simply put, they don’t like celebrating their roots. And I just feel that it makes you more powerful, more different, and [it gives you a] more interesting personality if you embrace your culture.”

Delby is a proud Filipino, and it shows through her designs. “I remember showing a fashion week in Gotham Hall in New York, and this was the first time presenting in spring [or] summer [of] 2016, and one of the things I really made sure of when I was interviewed by the international press there, I made it very clear that I’m Filipino. And you can see that. There are traces of that in the collection. I just had to make sure that they knew that. So many fabrics there were hand-woven from my country, the Philippines.”

Purpose is more than just promoting your culture—it’s about encouraging those who keep traditions alive. “Support local artists, support local weavers,” Delby said, “because when you say purpose, I can use fashion as a vehicle for, like, helping small women’s communities in the provinces! The hand weavers are the ones that make only a few inches of fabric a day versus commercial fabric production. So it’s a way to support others and give a message.” For this designer, using native fabric from traditional weavers is a small step in embracing heritage.

Passion, according to Delby, is to have a zeal for what you do. “You know, I realized I had a passion for fashion. I really like transformations and before and afters, you know, it makes me feel happy!” said Delby. It also means taking pride in embracing her culture for use in contemporary times. She creates and weaves tradition into everyday clothes. “You can see Filipino influences, but it is not like a costume. It’s not a costumey thing,” she said.

Her customers love the special touches in her fashion. “It’s not a hundred percent traditional. I choose elements, design elements from the past, and from Filipino culture or Filipino traditions and incorporate them with modern touches.” For example, this means utilizing puff sleeves and native fabrics with a more modern frame.

“I’m more interested in [a] stylized look, which means it is not like in the olden days. This one is mixing traditional and a more contemporary, more modern take. It’s something I can use, you can use now, but you can see the influences.”

To Delby, prosperity means giving abundance to yourself and others. It also supports your country and fills it with joy and opulence. “There’s prosperity for you, prosperity for people that work for you—it’s an opportunity, really, to celebrate purpose, express passion, [and] cultivate prosperity. It can be a business that [can] be financially rewarding. This is being very honest. If you set it up right, it can be!” Fashion makes the designer and her clients feel good while earning her a life’s wages. It shows that following what you love will not dampen your life but instead manage to give it excitement.

Purpose, passion, and prosperity drive Delby. But one more thing can be attributed to her success in life. “Let me close by giving you a quote that always inspires me. And this is a quote from Albert Einstein. And he said: ‘Creativity is intelligence having fun.’ So my advice for all those aspiring fashion designers is just to have fun! Chill and enjoy life!”